<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>the IDEA of less compression that I like<p><hr></blockquote><p><br>BINGO!<br><br><br>And thanks for the headphone suggestion.<br>I prefer over the ear as opposed to in the ear.<br><br>And if my thought-dreams could be seen<br>They'd probably put my head in a guillotine<br>But it's alright, Ma, it's life, and life only.

Thanks, I figured as much.<br>I won't be re-ripping anything I already have, either.<br><br><br><br>And if my thought-dreams could be seen<br>They'd probably put my head in a guillotine<br>But it's alright, Ma, it's life, and life only.

I imported all of my CDs at 320 because I figured more is better ... although I've listened to the arguments which say otherwise. 320 sounds better on my quality Sennheiser headphones and also on the car adapter ... the larger files aren't a problem because I just make a playlist to fit my 30Gb iPod. 160 or 128 sounds really thin in my Audi, even at 320 the sound is much inferior to the original CD. That's why I keep my CDs, to play in the car (6 CD changer) or through my home stereo. <br><br>I still by CDs --- for the sound quality and for the packaging graphics & liner notes.<br><br>If there comes a time in the near future where the hardware makes it simple & affordable to replace and consolidate, I'd re-rip all the CDs as Apple Lossless.<br><br>Recently I listened to an interview with Peter Gabriel as he discussed the nature of digital music. Digital recording and sound engineering technology produces the most accurate and pristine quality ever available, and it keeps getting better with enhanced multi-channel high density discs ... yet the way most people listen to music in severely compressed digital MP3s has lowered the quality from where it was on vinyl from decades ago. And that has got to change.<br><br>Couldn't agree more.<br><br><br><br><br><br>

... on the type of music you listen to.<br>I listen to a lot of classical and acoustic music and therefore use only Apple Lossless. Strings, voices, timbres .... all are smoother and more dynamic. You hear things that lower compression just tends to swallow.<br>And ... apart from the tonal quality, the sound stage opens up as well.<br>Lossless makes sense, because the Mac plays really quite well through good phones (and a USB headphone amp), and you may be able to stream the files to your stereo and not even hear a difference to the original CDs. Then just change iTouch playlists once in awhile. <br>Since you own the CDs, you have the advantage of testing a few representative cuts. Try 256 and also try lossless. If you can "feel" the difference, you know what to do. ;)<br><br>As far as the Apple in-ears are concerned, stay away from them. Overpriced. For in-ears, I suggest Ultimate Ears 5 or 4 ..... the latter are designed for the iPhone and have the start-stop etc. The normal buds are okay for the gym or so. <br>In-ears are great in noisy surroundings, but they do tend to localize the sound inside your head instead of extending the stage around it. <br> <br>For most listening, I second nagrome's advice. The Sennheiser PX100 are really quite amazing for their size and price. Airy with just enough bass. They seem to fit the iPhone/Touch well, but they are open designs and do not keep noise out. <br>For more punch, but not quite as portable, look at the Sennheiser 25-1 DJ phones. They really rock and are very robust as well. But not the 25SP or SD .... the 25-1.<br><br>The newer iPhones and iTouches sound better than previous ones. (The classic still sounds best) Their codec are quite improved, so that ripping at higher quality really does pay. No more ear-bleeds after half an hour. ;)<br><br><br><br><br>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>"Woe the nation, which has no heros. ...... Blessed the one, which needs none!" (Bertold Brecht)

<br>Neil Young actually blamed Apple for the decline in quality ...... LINK<br><br><br><br><br><br><br>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>"Woe the nation, which has no heros. ...... Blessed the one, which needs none!" (Bertold Brecht)

I always think that maybe someday I will get the kind of sound system or ears of listening skill to be able to tell the difference! So I want to be prepared...<br><br>nagr[color:red]o</font color=red>mme<br><br>I require stroyent!<br>TeamMacOSX.com | MacClan.net

<br>You probably already have the ears. ;)<br><br>I was pleasantly surprised last week, when instead of bringing "Die Zauberflöte" as 320 VBR mp3s, Katrina took the CDs along for the ride, and even on the car stereo (nothing special), she noted after a few minutes, how much more "3D" (her words) everything sounded, as if the singers were actually moving on stage.<br><br>So, if a youngster without any golden-ear pretensions can hear this, all those experts who claim that differences are all in the mind, either are completely unmusical or are listening to junk, where the difference wouldn't make a difference. ;)<br><br>There are a couple of excellent second hand stores in my area, and I am (re)buying CDs again, because when I moved back to Germany, I sold most of mine. Considering how things are going, with high-compression downloads replacing low compression media, CDs may well be the best consumer audio recording/delivery format we'll ever see. <br>Not enough true musical afficionados to drive or justify higher sampling formats, I am afraid.<br><br>So, lossless encoding is the least one should do.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>"Woe the nation, which has no heros. ...... Blessed the one, which needs none!" (Bertold Brecht)

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>What format/bit rate do you all recommend?<p><hr></blockquote><p><br>AIFF. ;)<br><br>Most of the stuff on my iPod is 320 AAC, and sounds decent enough through the stereo. But, on my Grado headphones and you can really tell the difference between it and the uncompressed CD. So much so, I only ever listen to CD's through the headphones anymore.<br><br><br>Hey I'm an F'n Jerk!®

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